Bronzer For Those That Avoid The Sun

I am not one to tan or fake a tan - never have been a fan of what one might consider the 'healthy look'. I like avoiding the sun and staying a nice shade of pale. For me pale is a light shade of olive - somewhere between the light color of foundation and the medium shade found in stores. A lot of things that tend to be labeled medium look orange on me and things that are labeled light are too yellow! The woe I face when picking out suitable colors!

One area that I have had trouble with in the past is bronzers and countouring colors. These always tend to make me look muddy or like a self tan product newbie nightmare.So when I saw some good buzz online about Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer with Murumuru Butter (ingredient fact: yellow fat collected from seeds of the plant) I decided to pick one up. I paid around $10 for it and since buying it a few weeks ago I cannot stop using it.

The compact is very nice. Hard plastic with a compartment that houses a cute little foam applicator and mirror under the product. The smell is amazing - very tropical like sunblock without the funky chemical smell. I bought the light color and it goes on nicely with the sponge provided. I use it to contour my cheekbones, jaw and forehead. When applied to my nose it gets a bit cakey and needs extra blending. It is not as shimmery as it looks in the pan, it goes on subtle and blends well. This gives me the perfect look for hot weather temps and does not feel heavy. I would buy this again for sure! It is available at drug stores and big box stores and should be easy to find this season.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge Review/Compare

After years of using those little latex free sponges to apply my foundation I upgraded to the Beauty Blender. After using the Beauty Blender a few times, I was in love. It made my foundation look super flawless. The only downside is the cost - $20 per sponge.

A few people told me that they liked the  Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. I decided to try it out after my last Beauty Blended croaked. I bought a 2 pack at Ulta for under $10.99 during a BOGO sale - already winning! I have seen them elsewhere but Ulta seems to always have them on sale plus even if they are not - they qualify for the promotional coupons you get in the mail. 

Besides the price I like the shape. The flat side is really good for applying foundation. The pointy flat edge really gets into the sides of the nose and is thin enough to do nose contouring. After using the sponge I can note some differences between the brands. This sponge stays damp no matter how much you ring it out. Also it absorbs foundation more, if you like a less coverage look, it may be better suited for your needs. It washes off and stains less in my opinion than the Beauty Blender which stained no matter how much I washed it. It is a good sponge and has multiple uses. Besides foundation I use it to blend in bronzer and concealer.


Would I buy them again? Yes. In the summer when I am more drawn to light foundation these are better for the look/feel I want. The price is also a big factor. They are an upgrade from the little sponges many of us use (or used). If you want to try a sponge without the hefty price tag then pick up these today.

 

Currently My Favorite Black Eyeliner

I am always searching for vegan & cruelty free beauty products. One thing I can never get enough of is black eyeliner. I first discovered eyeliner in pencil form in junior high. That black pencil could also double as lip liner! Wow!!! Once in my best friend's basement she found an old tube of liquid black eyeliner and said she had been looking for it for months and preceded to use it, hygiene be damned.

Black liner has been a staple for me since the 90s. A few weeks back I picked up Infinite Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eye Liner by Milani and decided to give it a spin. First of it is under $10 so that is a big time bonus given the fact I go through black eye liner like water on a hot day (drink that water!).

It is a felt tip which means it is pretty much goof proof. The felt tip goes on smooth - no dragging. Also there is no drying issues - the tip stays wet through both lids. These two points are why I was disappointed in a high end vegan liner that is similar in design and double the price. The formula dries fast and stays put. My wings stayed sharp for 12 hours with just some fading from running around and sweating. So far the felt tip has had no issues like getting fuzzy and has been able to keep drawing the perfect lines - from thick to thin.

This a must try if you are always searching for a long lasting black eyeliner. It is great for the rising temps or just to create the perfect cat eye effect. If you have tried this and liked it let me know. I will be posting more cruelty free & under $10 vegan beauty picks in the next few weeks so your money can go to non-dairy ice cream to keep you cool as the heat rises.

5 Vegan Beauty Products Under $5 You Need Now

Currently I am using each one of these products in my makeup routine. Most are from the drugstore but a few are from online but still will not break the bank. I wanted to share what I have been using because I really like these products and think some of my blog readers will as well.

Milani Moisture Matte Lipstick in Blissful. So hard to find nudes and light pinks that work with my light olive skin. Usually stuff is too light or pink based and looks horrible on me. The formula is really smooth and applies evenly. $4.99

Purple brows - why not? I really like the lippie pencils from Colourpop. They have crazy staying power and the consistency/texture works well for brows! $5

 
For nice glossy black lashes I reach for Wet N Wild Max Volume Plus Mascara. It comes in a giant pink tube and looks kinda space age-y cool! The formula is a more wet formula and the bristle of the wand are shorter and more spike-y helping to get each lash. It stays on pretty well for all day/night action. $4.99

Jordana 12 Hr Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencil in Black Point - I buy these in bulk whenever I see them. It my favorite eyeliner. It stays all day, super inky black in color, costs $1.99 and goes on smoothly. You need a German blade pencil sharpener to keep the point fresh. After trial and error I find this specific type of sharpener works best.

Another Milani pick is Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow: These go on so smooth you can use your finger to apply them. I have a few of the brown shades and am currently using Cappuccino on a daily basis. They are only $4.49 each and feel a lot more luxurious due to quality and packaging. There are colors for everyone (check site for vegan colors), finishes that range from matte to shimmer and blend with other shadows seamlessly.

For $1 you can get Blackbird Cosmetics loose shadow sample in Thirteen. Actually you can pick up any of the samples for $1 each. I actually bought a few and Thirteen is my favorite. I wanted a nude matte that works well with my skin tone and this delivered. The samples are generous and the packaging is very pretty. 

My Top 5 Vegan - Cruelty Free Beauty Products (Of The Moment)

These are the top 5 products that are getting much love in my beauty arsenal right now. These are all products I plan on buying again once I run out! They are that good!

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara   - When I saw this pop up in the Sephora webpage I ran out and bought it. I have been searching for a great mascara since the whole China thing came onto the scene. This mascara delivers a nice black inky color and impact. The only problem is it is a bit messy - or at least the excess always ends up on the tube...but it really is not a huge problem. I just need to wipe the tube and pull the wand out carefully.

Cosmic Bath and Beauty Blush in Sweet Cheeks: Perfect color that gives me the perfect pink cheek look. It blends well, not to shimmery (as in obnoxious teen cosmetic glittery) but  enough to get me glowing. The color gives my cheeks a nice healthy summer glow that will come in handy in the winter months - which I am already dreading!

Fergie for Wet N Wild Eye Shadow Primer:  This stuff is freaking amazing! I was skeptical at first - because most primers just do the minimal for my oily lids and I still have smudges and color transfer. This stuff makes me a eyeshadow primer lover! Once applied - the texture is nice, I can feel a velvety smoothness compared to other more watery primers of the past. The primer really gets everything to stick in place, no more creasing and my black liner stays crisp and clean all day long! Get this product now!

Gnarly Whale Beach Waves Spray in Thai Coconut:Simple ingredients that make dirty no wash hair days into big wavy delight hair days!


Out of Africa Lip Balm in Strawberry: I just got this lip balm in. I was picking Mar up some kitty shampoo and came across this product and had to try it - after all everyone needs a handful of lip balms in their bag right?It is a large tube - perfect for slathering on your lips. The flavor is not sickly sweet or artificial - which is not always a bad thing but I know some people dig on a more natural flavor. So if you like your balms more natural - this is for you. It is very moisturizing and goes on super smooth. 

Do you have any favorite products right now? Let me know - I am always looking to try new things!

Vegan Razors - A Good One To Get

Vegan razors are sometimes hard to come by, even if you do come by one chances are they suck! What makes a razor non-vegan? The strip can contain animal products such as lanolin and most popular razors are made by evil companies that test.

Schick Xtreme 3 eco is a great disposable razor! I called the company, they do not test on animals and this razor does not have animal bits in the strip. They are made from 100% recycled plastic and the package is also made from 100% recycled paper - win! I had a hard time tracking these down locally, I finally found them at Ulta. If you cannot find them locally DrugStore.com has the cheapest price for them right now.

Do they work? Yes, the shave is close, the blades are gentle enough not to hurt my skin (my pits are sensitive). The handle is comfortable, not to thin - causing an awkward grip or to chunky causing a weird claw type grip. The only problem is I left one out in the shower and the water damaged the strip overnight. If you store them in the shower keep them away from water flow - no brainier right? Sometimes I do not think about simple things!